Manager to front court following deadly factory blaze in Melbourne

WorkSafe has charged the general manager of a chemical production firm over the death of an employee at a Melbourne factory two years ago. Two counts have been laid under section 144 of Victoria's Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, which sets out the duty of officers to exercise reasonable care. A filing hearing has been scheduled at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court.

Key details at a glance

• Accused: A 36-year-old company officer, who has not fronted court on the allegations.
• Charges: Two counts of failing to demonstrate reasonable care under section 144.
• Incident: An explosion and fire during the mixing of combustible liquids.
• Worker: A 44-year-old man died at the Melbourne plant.
• Next step: Filing hearing listed for 22 October 2025.

Inside the deadly factory blaze

The 44-year-old man was performing duties at the site when combustible liquids ignited, triggering an explosion and fire. Investigators examined how the mixing task was planned, supervised and controlled before the blaze broke out.

Prosecutors allege leadership decisions, rather than a single frontline error, sat behind the tragedy. That distinction explains why an individual officer, not only the employing business, now faces prosecution.

What section 144 means for company officers

Officer duties apply to people who make, or take part in making, decisions that affect a substantial part of an enterprise. Regulators expect those decision-makers to understand operational risk, allocate resources and verify that controls actually work on the floor.

WorkSafe Victoria confirmed the charges in a news release. Reasonable care, in practice, means an officer can show evidence of due diligence — documented risk assessments, competency records, maintenance logs and audit findings — rather than assurances given verbally.

Why this news matters to Australian employers

News of the filing hearing arrives as regulators sharpen their focus on accountability at senior levels. Directors and managers across construction, manufacturing and healthcare should treat the matter as a prompt to review their own governance evidence.

Controls worth verifying now

• Confirm chemical registers and safety data sheets match what is stored, decanted and blended on site.
• Review mixing procedures for ignition sources, ventilation, earthing and incompatible substances.
• Test emergency response arrangements, including evacuation, spill containment and fire suppression.
• Document supervisor competency and refresher training for every high-risk task.
• Schedule verification walks so officers see chemical handling practices firsthand instead of relying on reports.

Guidance from WorkSafe Victoria and Safe Work Australia outlines how businesses should assess chemical hazards, apply the hierarchy of control and record decisions. Safety news like this case demonstrates the value of keeping such records current and accessible.

Related safety news and resources

Our earlier news report on a builder charged after a workplace death at a Melbourne factory covers similar officer-liability themes. Also see how a concrete pumping business was penalised after a boom pump malfunction, plus this account of a truck driver hospitalised following a blaze.

Teams documenting high-risk activities can start with ready-to-edit templates such as our Carpet Court SWMS Pack, the expanded Carpet Court + T SWMS Pack, or a plant-specific option like our Front-end Loader Operation SWMS.

Follow our safety news updates for further coverage as the Melbourne prosecution progresses.